Have you ever had a character look you dead in the eye and tell you that your version of fantasy world building just isn’t working for them?
That was me last week with Zack. I had his path perfectly planned out, but then the clouds rolled in (narratively speaking). He needed somewhere to sleep, a storm was brewing, and suddenly, my flat plains and gentle hills weren’t cutting it. He needed shelter. He needed a cave.
And because I can’t just do anything by halves, I couldn’t just give him a “hole in a hill.” No, we had to dive into the deep end of geological lifecycles.
The “Quick” Research Rabbit Hole
I thought I’d spend ten minutes looking at cave entrances. Instead, I spent my afternoon learning about:
- Lava Tubes: How they form when the edges of a lava flow cool and harden while the molten centre keeps right on moving.
- Basalt Columnar Jointing: Why some rocks look like they were carved by a master mason rather than volcanic heat.
- Thermal Erosion: The way heat and pressure cooperate to carve out secret spaces where a weary (and morally grey) lead can actually catch his breath.
It’s funny how a single night of shelter for a character can reshape an entire mountain range in your mind. My geography is no longer just a backdrop; it’s a living, cooling, shifting entity that dictates where my characters can hide—and where they might be trapped.
Fantasy World Building : Why It Matters
As writers, we often think we’re the ones in control. But sometimes, the most authentic moments come when the needs of the character force us to expand the world. Zack’s need for a bed didn’t just give me a scene; it gave me a whole new volcanic history for the region.
Readers want reality as the basis for the fantasy to then flow across. Not only do I enjoy my research it can lead on to wonderful and unexpected things. This cave is no longer a simple spot for Zack to shelter. It has become deeply embedded in the magical lore of Ascendia. The original need for shelter from the rain morphed beyond my wildest imaginings to become so much more!
Has a character ever “forced” you to change your world-building on the fly? Or are you a strict mapper who refuses to budge for a bit of rain?
